Daytona 500: Sterling Marlin race report

LATE RACE INCIDENT KNOCKS MARLIN OUT OF CONTENTION FOR THIRD DAYTONA 500
WIN
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Feb. 19, 2006) -- The performance was much better
than the final result for Sterling Marlin, who finished 34th in
Sunday's season-opening...

LATE RACE INCIDENT KNOCKS MARLIN OUT OF CONTENTION FOR THIRD DAYTONA 500
WIN

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Feb. 19, 2006) -- The performance was much better
than the final result for Sterling Marlin, who finished 34th in
Sunday's season-opening Daytona 500 at Daytona International
Speedway. The Waste Management driver ran strong all day and was in
position to win his third Daytona 500 before being collected in a
multicar wreck late in the race.

"What a shame," said Marlin, who was running ninth at the time of
the accident. "The Waste Management Chevrolet was really good all day
and I was having fun out there. We had a rocket and I'm confident at
least a top-10 finish was in our future -- maybe even the win. But
things just didn't work out for us the way they were supposed
to."

Marlin was forced to start the 500-mile event from the back of the
43-card field as a result of the team moving to its backup Chevrolet
after a wreck in Thursday's Gatorade 150 Duel event.

"Starting from the back was a disadvantage," offered Marlin.
"But we drove through the field and then stayed in the lead draft and
kept our nose clean most of the day. It really looked like we were going
to have a good, solid finish until something happened to the No. 2 car
(Kurt Busch). I don't know if he got into the wall or if someone
turned him into the fence but he came down in front of us and knocked the
nose off the car. Our chance for a win was done after that."

"Aside from the actual result, it wasn't a bad day at all,"
continued Marlin. "This is a new race team and we came out of the gate
strong in our first performance together. The Waste Management guys gave
me an awesome racecar and everyone worked hard throughout Speedweeks to
be successful. The fact that we were in contention for a win in the
Daytona 500 says a lot about this team. I see a bright future ahead of
us."

The team's next challenge will be at California Speedway next weekend
(Feb. 26). The event will be broadcast live on FOX beginning at 3:30 p.m.
ET.